Harpenden edge thriller at St George's

On a lovely sunny morning, we made the long trip to Harpenden to play what promised to be a high-quality game of cricket. On a dry, flat wicket, our opening bowlers, Alex Portas and Jake Morris, justified Alec Chappell's decision to bowl first with pacy, accurate spells. Morris struck first, clean bowling Callender with his second ball, while Portas's three overs went for only six runs. When Sam Gardner's first delivery bowled Barford for 5, our hosts slumped to 9-2 in the sixth over. However, Ollie Jones pulled the Harpenden innings round with a quick 22, before Alfie Button's fluent 24 took the score to respectable levels.

Ben Warman and Will Price chipped in with wickets, but on a low, slow pitch it was Matt Pike's accurate leg spin that proved hardest to hit, and he finished with 2-10 from his two overs. Charlie Peace bowled well at the death as Harpenden closed on 105-7. Keeper Joe Stanborough kept tidily and our fielding was generally decent.

However, we knew in advance that Harpenden's strong suit was their bowling, and the rapid Button proved a handful at the start of our innings. Elliot Needham and Matt Pike both played with skill and concentration to make it though his testing opening overs, and then began to unfurl some stylish strokes. When Needham edged behind for 11, Pike was joined by Alex Portas, and the pair began to accelerate threateningly.

Pike struck two lovely successive fours off Jacob Winfield only to fall to the next ball for 13, bringing Alec Chappell to the crease. As Chappell played himself in, Portas played three glorious strokes off Harpenden skipper Barford, including an imperious six over midwicket. Both sides knew that this partnership might prove crucial, so it was disappointing from our perspective when Portas was adjudged leg before to leg spinner Ollie Jones for a rapid 19.

Chappell was joined by Will Price, and the pair kept up with the required run rate before Price chipped a catch off Barford and departed for 9. With a run-a-ball needed, Chappell was joined by Coby Miles, and some excellent running between the wickets saw the pair take the score to 92. Opening bowler Patrick Frost had proved quite expensive, but he produced a perfect yorker at a vital moment to dismiss Chappell for 17.

Button's return seemed to tip the balance in Harpenden's favour, but Miles and Jake Morris both played smart cricket and we went into the last over requiring eight runs to win having lost fewer wickets. Button overstepped with his first ball and we ran a bye, before Coby and Jake scrambled three from the next three legitimate deliveries. Unfortunately, an untimely short run wiped another potential run from our total, and with victory one boundary away, Button bowled a disconsolate Miles for 9. With three needed to win from two balls, Ben Warman got a single, leaving Jake needing two from the last delivery. A full, quick delivery was clipped to midwicket, but only one run was scored, leaving the hosts victorious.

Despite the result, we could be proud of our efforts. The game was played in a tremendous spirit, with Harpenden's offer to grant us a sub when Will Price was delayed en route a very sporting gesture. All 22 players and the spectators present will have enjoyed their morning's cricket, and although defeat was hard to take, the day was a success on every other level.